Dealing with Layoffs

February 2nd, 2009 Posted in A Positive Moment, Newsletter, No Complaining Rule

It seems like every time you turn on the television or read the paper more companies are laying off more people. If you are like me, the bad news feels like someone punched you in the stomach. You feel for the people who are losing their job and you grow even more concerned about our economy and future.

It’s times likes these where we have to be mindful of the collective “doom and gloom” and not let it seep into our mindset. We have to remind ourselves that the media reports the negative news, not the positive news. They announce that a company is laying off 3,000 employees but they don’t say that 300,000 people are still employed. They don’t say that millions of people are still working every day and contributing to the global economy. We have to remember that even if the unemployment rate approaches 10% that still means that we have 90% employment. There are still a whole lot of employed people who are making money, eating at restaurants, paying for college, fueling up their cars, buying houses, and purchasing every day products.

Imagine if the headline read “Employment rate closing in on 92%” rather than saying “The Unemployment rate is soaring to 8%.” Two different headlines and two very different perspectives, thoughts and emotions.

Instead of listening to all the negative voices we have to focus on our choices. The choice to be optimistic or pessimistic. The choice to focus on 92% employment or 8% unemployment. The choice to stay positive in the face of all the negative news. And the choice to take positive actions to deal with the current situation.

But what if you are someone who has to deal with a layoff first hand? Perhaps you are in a company that is dealing with layoffs. Perhaps you have to do the layoffs. Or worse, perhaps you are the one who has been or is being laid off. The reality of the situation is that layoffs are happening and you might be wondering how to deal with it.

In next week’s newsletter I’ll share specific suggestions on how to deal with layoffs, if:

1. You are a leader or manager having to do the layoffs.
2. You are someone who is staying in a company where layoffs are happening.
3. If you are someone who has been or is being laid off.

There is certainly no positive spin on having to fire someone or be fired. But there are ways to turn the bad and use it for good. There are ways to maintain trust, integrity and optimism. Having been laid off during the dot.com crash a number of years ago I know this situation well and hopefully I can share some lessons from the most fearful and uncertain time in my life.

Until next week, stop listening to the negative voices and focus on your positive choices.

Share your comments on this article here.

Stay Positive,
-Jon
www.JonGordon.com  

LISTEN to this weeks Positive Moment Audio Tip.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

  1. 17 Responses to “Dealing with Layoffs”

  2. By Julie on Feb 2, 2009

    Amen, Amen.
    My husband is going through lay offs and is in a management position. We just had this conversation last week. Thanks for affirming my words and thoughts to him. Bottom line you can’t change all of the negativity around you. However you can change your thoughts and energy that you are transferring to others. He has been trying that and is working.
    Thanks
    Julie

  3. By David on Feb 2, 2009

    Being one of the 8% laid off a year ago, someone who’s highly experienced and qualified as a software engineer, someone who’s up-to-date, versatile, highly recommended in technical sales, and STILL not able to find solid work opportunities, well… it’s tough to be positive.
    I’ve been offered a couple of contracts, only to have the project funding cancelled within the week. Others never even call, or acknowledge I’ve sent them anything. At least a “no thank you” or “we’ve filled the position” would bring some closure.

    What this is doing to my wife and kids is so hard to watch… last night we just sat and cried.
    We know God is near and loves us, He’s shown us that over and over, and there are those true friends who have shown their love (and interestingly, it’s been the poorest who’ve opened their hearts and wallets and shared what little they’ve had–not the ones who’ve got plenty.)
    But in His Providence and for His purposes He’s allowing us to go through the “Valley of the Shadow” at this time… we know it will reap a harvest of joy and we’ll understand it all someday… but right now it really, really sucks!
    As I heard someone say, “If you want to hear God tell you ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’, then that’s what you’re going to be…Well-Done!!! Not rare, not medium…but roasted in the fires of testing until you’re well-done!”

  4. By Doug Williams on Feb 2, 2009

    I am not being laid off or think that I will be. But you can never be for sure of things out of our control. I do stay positive about the mess. But I still cannot see another person loose everything they have worked so hard for many years to aquire. It is mostly the older generation that is getting hurt the worse.
    About the reporting in a newspaper and being positive. The newspaper I will agree along with the media of all kinds do hit on the negative side of things and also leave out a lot to make it sond not so bad at times. Like when they report there is 9% unemployment that really is only the ones collecting unemployment, it does not count the ones that have run out of unemployment and still no job. So they are not all negative but not all truthful either, but they could still report it the positive way and the intent would be recieved better. Thanks for your work and keep it positive.

  5. By SNEHASIS NANDA on Feb 2, 2009

    When companies can not take responsibilities of the financial crisis of their employees after lay offs, they should not restrict their employees to create their second line of defence while in work after working for the stipulated time as set by the companies. Even companies should encourage their employees for creating the second line of defence, instead of putting any condition by not allowing the employees to take up any assignments while working for the company ( as normally written in the appointment letter)

  6. By Carrie Sperlunto on Feb 2, 2009

    Thank you for those inspiring thoughts. It’s truly a matter of “is the glass half full or half empty.” I’m reading more and more lately about turning off the TV and especially turning off the news. The bottom line is bad news sells, so they will sell on and we need to tune out!

    I own a restaurant and I encourage the staff to leave on the music and leave off the TV, unless a customer requests the TV be on. Long before I started reading about the negative impact of TV and bad news, I started making it a point to leave off the TV at the restaurant. When people go out to eat, they want a good time! They don’t want hurricane updates and the voices of doom & gloom!

    I’m not at the restaurant every minute and it’s an ongoing project to educate my employees. I remain positive that I’m making progress with them.

    Thanks again for sharing your insight.

  7. By Fitu Papu on Feb 2, 2009

    hi jon,

    you’ve given a powerful message that most people are facing in this time of economic crisis. the media sure has a way of bringing disasters in our lives especially when all it conveys is pessimism. pessimism cannot solve the situation the world seems to be in. what we need is a positive message that would help to ameliorate the situation, and that message is what you’ve disseminated to people in partnership with you. thank you jon. your message is relevant so that people can rise up against the pessimisms of life and make a difference. :-)

    thank you again and God bless…

  8. By Brenda on Feb 2, 2009

    Jon, your series re: layoffs is coming to me at a very appropriate time. I work for a California school district that is facing major cuts from a State budget crisis and layoffs or some sort of reduction will be in our future. I look forward to your upcoming articles. Thank you.

  9. By DD on Feb 2, 2009

    No matter how bad it gets I always look for the silver lining in things. This has always worked for me as well as seeing the light at the end of a tunnel. Sometimes the light is small and other times the light is all around you.

  10. By Joan on Feb 2, 2009

    You’ve truly got to be kidding me…When ONE of us is without a job…ALL of us are to blame…yes blame…negative word, isn’t’ it? However, maybe by changing the paradigm of giving money to the rich and powerful AGAIN with da’poowha’s tax dollars…,maybe…just maybe we can be a positive society for once and change laws to help the “least of our brethren” in a significant and spectacular way so that NONE of us face a future without food, shelter, clothing, cars and a work hour week of 40 hours so we can get back to having some family time and start to make sense of life once again. Betcha’ won’t publish this one!

  11. By Joan on Feb 2, 2009

    correction on comment submitted on FEb. 2nd ..so that None of us face a future without food, shelter, clothing, and cars — and will face a future of a 40 hour work week so we can get back to having some family time and start to make sense out of life once again.

  12. By DC on Feb 2, 2009

    Hi Jon!

    Thanx for another (timely) positive piece.

    I’ve been laid off twice in my working life. With today’s economic climate it’s easy to become focused on the negative. But even now it’s important that we stay positively focused. A layoff is always a blessing in disguise (new opportunities, a break between gigs, a test of our spiritual muscle).

    Looking forward to the followup!

    Peace.

  13. By Erick on Feb 3, 2009

    Thank You Jon for again this inspiring article (after “Spirit at Work” that light the heart & drive the enthusiasm to be blessing for others)

    Let us become aware about the opportunity in using every moment to open up new life. Yes, it is true how devastating layoffs can be. But what if the layoffs is the sign for us for a new career life? If it’s the order for us to make changes? If it’s a door for us to enter into more enlightening life? If it’s a ladder for us to be climbed into the higher wisdom? If it’s the sign for us to fulfilled the next life’s call?

    Let cherish every moment that come into our life. Blessing in disguise always work

  14. By Teri on Feb 3, 2009

    Jon,

    I just finished reading how to deal with being laid off, fired, etc. I would like to hear from you about how to handle the spouse who had been fired. My husband has had so many jobs, and has never held the same job for one year. He is very well educated. He has been on jobs sometimes for less than 30 days, only to be let go. I would like to hear from you on how to help the working spouse help the non-working spouse.

    Thank you

  15. By K. Montana on Feb 3, 2009

    Very helpful article as I start my day this morning–thanks, John!

  16. By Helena O'Brien on Feb 3, 2009

    Hi Jon

    Thanks for these messages. I really enjoy reading them each week especially during these times. Its true what you say.

    God Bless
    Helena O’Brien
    County Cork
    Ireland.

  17. By Jan Ostler-Walker on Feb 4, 2009

    My experience in the past, was that it sure didn’t feel good at the time but it also opens us up to new opportunities. When you are actively working, it is more difficult in the grind of the day to think about any kind of change because it takes so much effort. When you are not working is a real time to reassess what it is you like to do since work is 1/3 or more of your day. It can be an adventure. Ultimately, I ended up completely changing fields.

  18. By Reggie on Feb 14, 2009

    You are sooooooo right!It’s the way you look at it!

Post a Comment

*
To prove you're a person (not a spam script), type the security word shown in the picture. Click on the picture to hear an audio file of the word.
Click to hear an audio file of the anti-spam word